A man who vanished from a Bay Area prison three decades ago has finally been found, ending a mystery that puzzled authorities for years. Ronald Keith Harvey, now 79, was arrested in Nevada City, just 150 miles from the prison he escaped in 1994.
Harvey was originally incarcerated for operating a large-scale marijuana operation that included more than 600 plants and firearms. After his escape from FCI Dublin, he managed to disappear without a trace, leaving law enforcement searching for answers.
The breakthrough came in 2025, when a new data search uncovered a possible address linked to Harvey. Following up on this lead, authorities tracked him down and took him into custody on June 12.
FCI Dublin, the prison Harvey escaped from, has its own complicated history. Once a low-security facility for women, it later made headlines for housing celebrities involved in the Varsity Blues scandal and for reports of widespread abuse. The prison was permanently closed in 2024.
Harvey’s capture is a testament to the persistence of law enforcement, who never gave up on the decades-old case. As one official put it, fugitives like Harvey may try to blend in, but they’re always looking over their shoulders—and the search never truly ends until justice is served.